One man seriously hurt in Rogers Park blaze

Firefighters work on the roof of a home in the 6500 block of Newgard Avenue in Rogers Park this morning.

Firefighters work on the roof of a home in the 6500 block of Newgard Avenue in Rogers Park this morning. (Ann R. Weiler, for the Tribune)

By Liam FordTribune reporter

Several small fires in a single home in Rogers Park seriously injured one man this morning.

The man appeared to be awake when he was wheeled on a stretcher from the home in the 6500 block of North Newgard Avenue to a waiting ambulance on nearby Albion Avenue, but he had his hands over his eyes. According to a Chicago Fire Department battalion chief at the scene, the man was listed in serious-to-critical condition and was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston.

The fire started about 7 a.m. on the first floor of the 2½-story frame house, said Fire Department spokesman Richard Rosado. The injured man is 53 and he suffered from smoke inhalation, according to the fire department, which said his condition had stabilized.

The fire official at the scene said there were several different fires in the North Side building and that the cause is under investigation. Fire Department investigators from the Office of Fire Investigation were on the scene about an hour after the fire was extinguished.

Firefighters used a hook and ladder to get to the roof of the home and open it up to fight the fire.

Neighbors said the home was in foreclosure and the front door padlocked, so they were surprised anyone was taken out. The resident had been evicted, they said.

The blaze was extinguished and its cause is under investigation, said Rosado.

A Bomb and Arson detective said they were notified of the fire and are investigating.